Adjustable card file

ABSTRACT

An adjustable card file for holding a plurality of cards having a pair of transversely spaced telescoping frame members each having an end panel and arms extending from opposite ends of the end panel. Each of the arms have a plurality of apertures arranged in aligned random patterns to engageably receive support members extending between the transversely spaced arms for movably supporting at least one partition thereby defining a card-receiving compartment.

United States Patent Norvin J. Wehner Kansas City, Mo. 815,541

Apr. 14, 1969 Mar. 30, 197 l Cramer Industries, Inc. Kansas City, Kans.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ADJUSTABLE CARD FILE 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[1.8. CI 220/22.1 Int. Cl 865d 25/06 Field of Search 220/22,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,085 12/1897 Vilas 220/22.5X 1,469,347 10/1923 Westin 220/221 1,677,544 7/1928 Brainard 220/223 1,863,749 6/1932 Graham 220/97X Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Fishburn, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT: An adjustable card file for holding a plurality of cards having a pair of transversely spaced telescoping frame members each having an end panel and arms extending from opposite ends of the end panel. Each of the arms have a plurality of apertures arranged in aligned random patterns to engageably receive support members extending between the transversely spaced arms for movably supporting at least one partition thereby defining a card-receiving compartment.

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ADEUSTABLE CARD FILE The present invention relates to card files and more particularly to an adjustable card file adapted to selectively receive and hold a plurality of sizes of cards in an adjustable cardreceiving compartment.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an adjustable card file adapted to receive one size of a plurality of sizes of cards in an adjustable card-receiving compartment; to provide such a card file adapted to be stacked vertically; to provide such a card file adapted to hold a plurality or rows of card files; to provide such a card file having a card-receiving compartment which is adjustable in width, length and height to selectively receive a plurality of sizesof filing cards; and to provide such'a card file which is economical to manufacture, simple to use, positive and direct in operation, and particularly well suited for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. l .is a perspective view of an adjustable card file embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the card file with an adjusted position shown in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2, showing an. adjusted or card-holding position of a divider or partition member in broken lines.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two card files stacked vertically.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1v generally designates an adjustable card file having a pair of transversely spaced, interengaging frame members 2 and 3 supporting a plurality of elongated support membersd and at least one partition member is movably mounted on the support members, 4, thereby defining a card receiving compartment 6. Tilting of the partition member 5 on the support members 4 locks the partition member 5 in position, thereby defining the length or thickness of the card-receiving compartment 6.

The frame members 2 and 3 each consist of a U-shaped member. The frame member 2 has an elongated end panel 7 and arms 3 and 9 extending from opposite ends of the end panel 7 and transversely thereto. The frame member 3 also has an elongated end panel 10 and arms 11 and 12 extending from opposite ends of t the end .panel 10 and transversely thereto. Facing interior surfaces of the arms 8 and 9 are spaced to slidingly engage exterior surfaces of the arms ll and 12 of the frame member 3 during adjustment of the spacing between the end panels 7 and 16.

Upper and lower edges 14 and 15 respectively of the arms 8 and 9 of the frame member 2 are formed to provide facing U- shaped rails l6 and 17 to be slidably received in corresponding U-shaped guides 18 and 19 formed on upper and lower edges 26 and 21 respectively of the arms 10 and ill of the frame member 3, thereby providing for telescoping of the frame members 2 and 3 to vary the size of the card-receiving compartment 6 within the card file 1.

When the card file 1 is to be placed within a confined space, it is desirable to provide means for lifting same, therefore, stacking flanges, as later described, extending from upper and lower edges of the end panels 7 and 10 are notched to provide handgrips for grasping and lifting the card file 1.

Each of the arms 8 and 9 of the frame member 2 and arms ll and 12 of the frame member 3 have a plurality of apertures 22, with the apertures 22 in the arm 8 being transversely aligned with the apertures 22 in the arm 9, and the apertures 22 in the arm ll are transversely aligned with the apertures 22 in the arm 12. The apertures 22 in the arms 8 and 9 of the frame member 2 are arranged in a like random pattern with the apertures 22 in the arms I1 and 12 of the frame member 3, whereby the card file I is adjustable and is adapted to selectively receive a pluralityof sizes of. filing cards C in the cardreceiving compartment 6.

In the illustrated structure, the apertures 22 are keyholeshaped with each aperture 22 having an enlarged, generally circular, support-member-receiving portion 23 and a supportmember-retaining portion 24 depending from the receiving portion 23.

The support members 4 are illustrated as elongated, cylindrical rods each having annular recesses 25 and 26 in an exterior surface thereof and positioned adjacent opposite ends of the support member 4. The annular recesses 25 and 26 are sized to be slidably received within the support-memberretaining portion 24 of the respective apertures 22 with the respective retaining portion 24 having a dimension substantially narrower than the exterior dimension of the respective support member 4, whereby same is retained within the respective aperture 22.

The partition members 5 are illustrated as generally planar, rectangular members each having a plurality of apertures 27 adjacent one edge thereof. The apertures 27 are shaped and sized to be slightly larger than the exterior dimension of the support members 4 whereby the respective partition members 5 may be longitudinally movable along the respective support members 4 to vary the size of the card-receiving compartment 6.

There are a plurality of sizes of the partition members 5 wherein each different size defines a card-receiving compartment of a size corresponding to the size of the respective partition. The partition members 5 are interchangeable upon adjustment of the frame members 2 and 3 and relocation of the support members 4 in the aligned apertures 22.

Upper and lower flanges 28 and 29, respectively, extend outwardly from upper and lower edges of the end panel 7 and upper and lower flanges 30 and 31 respectively extend outwardly from upper and lower edges of the end panel 10, whereby any adjustable card file 1 may be stacked vertically with a similar card file. In the illustrated structure, the upper flanges 28 and 30 each have a plurality of downwardly extending recesses 32 shaped to receive a plastic nonscuff button 33 mounted in the lower flanges 30 and 31, respectively. The recesses 32 and the buttons 33 cooperate to maintain the stacked card files together, thereby substantially eliminating slippage therebetween.

In use as a single card file l, the frame members 2 and 3 are interengaged with the rails 16 and 17 being received within the guides 13 and 19 respectively and spacing between the end panels 7 and 10 being adjusted until the desired apertures 22 are aligned. The support members or rods 4 are mounted in the apertures 22 of one of the arms of the frame members 2 and 3 and the selected partition member or members 5 are mounted on the rods 4 which are then mounted in the apertures 22 in the other arms of the frame members 2 and 3. The apertures 22 are arranged in a random pattern whereby at least one of the support rods 4 is engaged within the apertures 22 in the armsfi and 11 at one side of the card file l and within the apertures 22 in the arms 9 and 12 at the other side of the card file l to prevent telescoping of the frame members 2' and 3 thereby maintaining the selected size of the card-receiving compartment 6. The selected file cards C are placed in the compartment'6 and are supported on the rods 4. The respective partition member or divider 5 is then moved forwardly along the support rods 4 to engage the file cards C and tilted rearwardly, thereby holding the divider 5 and file cards C in place, as shown in broken lines inFIG. 3. In the particular card file l, the compartment 6 is adjustable from a single legal or letter size compartment to a double compartment for file cards C ranging in size from 3 inches X5 inches cards to 6 inches X9 inches cards. In FIG. 1 there is shown indicia in the form of a plurality of index lines 35 for adjustment of the frame members-2 and 3 for selectively receiving different size file cards C. The indicia 35 are placed on the arm ll of the frame member 3 and correspond to sizes of the card receiving compartment 6 for the respective cards to be received therein. The outer or free end of the arm 3 is moved to align with the index line 35 corresponding to the desired size of the compartment 6 thereby aligning the appropriate apertures 22 for receiving the support rods 4. The indicia includes a designation of the compartment size corresponding to the reference or index line 35 thereby providing for quickly and easily positioning the frame members 2 and 3 to define the selected cardreceiving compartment. It is noted that one card size may be placed in one compartment and another card size placed in the other compartment.

When it is desired to stack two or more card files vertically, they are adjusted to align the respective end panels 7 and 10 and then the lower flanges 29 and 31 of the upper card file are placed to engage the upper flanges 28 and respectively of the lower card file with the recesses 32 in the upper flanges 28 and 30 of the lower card file receiving the buttons 33 mounted in the lower flanges 29 and 31 of the upper card file.

The card file 1 may be moved out of confined spaces by grasping the handgrips formed by the notches in the stacking flanges 28, 29, 30 and 31.

It is to be understood that, while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

Iclaim:

1. An adjustable card file comprising:

a. a pair of transversely spaced interengaging frame members each having an elongated end panel and an arm extending from each of the opposite ends of said end panel, said arms and end panels each having upper and lower edges;

b. upper and lower U-shaped rails at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of one of said frame members; I

c. upper and lower U-shaped guides at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of the other of said frame members for slidably receiving said upper and lower rails whereby said frame members are telescopable;

d. a plurality of apertures in each of said arms of said frame members, said apertures in one of said arms of each of said frame members being transversely aligned with the apertures in the other arm, said apertures in each of said arms of each of said frame members being arranged in like random patterns whereby the card rack is adjustable to receive a selected size of a plurality of sizes of cards;

e. a plurality of elongated support members extending between said arms of said frame members and each being removably engaged in an aligned pair of apertures, said support members each having an annular recess in an exterior surface adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof to be removably engaged within a respective aperture; and

f. at least one partition member mounted on said support members and movable longitudinally therealong to define a longitudinal dimension of a card-receiving compartment within the card file whereby a plurality of cards are supported on said elongated support members and are positioned between said partition member and one of said frame members, the card file being characterized by having telescopable frame members to vary a transverse size of a card-receiving compartment and the partition member being movable to vary a longitudinal dimension of the card-receiving compartment.

2. A card file as set forth in claim 1 including:

a. upper and lower flanges extending transversely from said upper and lower edges respectively of each of said end panels of said frame members;

b. at least one downwardly extending recess in each of said upper flanges; and

c. an upwardly extending button on said lower flanges for each downwardly extending recess, said buttons being positioned to be received in a respective downwardly extending recess whereby a plurality of like card files may be stacked verticall 3. A card file as set orth in claim 1 wherein said random pattern of said apertures in each arm of said frame members is arranged to vary a vertical dimension and transverse dimension of the card receiving compartment.

4. An adjustable card file comprising:

a. a pair of transversely spaced interengaging frame members each being U-shaped members and having an elongated end panel members and having an elongated end panel and an arm extending from each of the opposite ends of said end panel, said arms and end panels each having upper and lower edges;

b. upper and lower U-shaped rails at the upper and lower edges respectively of the anns of one of said frame members;

c. upper and lower U-shpaed guides at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of the other of said frame members for slidably receiving said upper and lower rails whereby said frame members are telescopable to vary the spacing between said end panels and thereby adjust the size of a card-receiving compartment;

d. a plurality of apertures in each of said arms of said frame members, said apertures in one of said arms of each of said frame members being transversely aligned with the apertures in the other arm, said apertures in each of said arms of each of said frame members being arranged in like random patterns whereby the card rack is adjustable to selectively receive a plurality of sizes of cards in the card-receiving compartment, said apertures in said arms each being keyhole-shaped and having a generally circular portion and a retaining portion depending therefrom, said retaining portion being narrower than the circular portion;

e. a plurality of elongated support members extending between said arms of said frame members and each selectively engaged in an aligned pair of apertures, said support members each having an annular recess in an exterior surface adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, the portions of said support members having the recess therein being received in a respective retaining portion of said apertures to retain said support members therein; a plurality of partitions each being movably mounted on said support members and movable longitudinally therealong to define a longitudinal dimension of a plurality of card-receiving compartments within the card file, said partitions being of different sizes and selectively interchangeable upon relocation of said support members; and

g. a plurality of indexing lines on at least one arm of one of said frame members to designate the transverse size of the card-receiving compartments when a free end of a corresponding arm of the other frame member is aligned with a selected index line.

. A card file as set forth in claim 4 including:

. upper and lower flanges extending transversely from said upper and lower edges respectively of each of said end panels of said frame members;

b. at least one downwardly extending recess in each of said upper flanges; and

c. an upwardly extending button on said lower flanges for each downwardly extending recess, said buttons each having a nonscuff surface, said buttons being positioned to be received in a respective downwardly extending recess whereby a plurality of like card files may be stacked vertically.

6. A card file as set forth in claim 3 including a plurality of indexing lines on at least one arm of one of said frame members to designate the vertical and transverse size of the cardreceiving compartment when a free end of a corresponding arm of the other frame member is aligned with a selected indexing line. 

1. An adjustable card file comprising: a. a pair of transversely spaced interengaging frame members each having an elongated end panel and an arm extending from each of the opposite ends of said end panel, said arms and end panels each having upper and lower edges; b. upper and lower U-shaped rails at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of one of said frame members; c. upper and lower U-shaped guides at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of the other of said frame members for slidably receiving said upper and lower rails whereby said frame members are telescopable; d. a plurality of apertures in each of said arms of said frame members, said apertures in one of said arms of each of said frame members being transversely aligned with the apertures in the other arm, said apertures in each of said arms of each of said frame members being arranged in like random patterns whereby the card rack is adjustable to receive a selected size of a plurality of sizes of cards; e. a plurality of elongated support members extending between said arms of said frame members and each being removably engaged in an aligned pair of apertures, said support members each having an annular recess in an exterior surface adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof to be removably engaged within a respective aperture; and f. at least one partition member mounted on said support members and movable longitudinally therealonG to define a longitudinal dimension of a card-receiving compartment within the card file whereby a plurality of cards are supported on said elongated support members and are positioned between said partition member and one of said frame members, the card file being characterized by having telescopable frame members to vary a transverse size of a card-receiving compartment and the partition member being movable to vary a longitudinal dimension of the card-receiving compartment.
 2. A card file as set forth in claim 1 including: a. upper and lower flanges extending transversely from said upper and lower edges respectively of each of said end panels of said frame members; b. at least one downwardly extending recess in each of said upper flanges; and c. an upwardly extending button on said lower flanges for each downwardly extending recess, said buttons being positioned to be received in a respective downwardly extending recess whereby a plurality of like card files may be stacked vertically.
 3. A card file as set forth in claim 1 wherein said random pattern of said apertures in each arm of said frame members is arranged to vary a vertical dimension and transverse dimension of the card receiving compartment.
 4. An adjustable card file comprising: a. a pair of transversely spaced interengaging frame members each being U-shaped members and having an elongated end panel members and having an elongated end panel and an arm extending from each of the opposite ends of said end panel, said arms and end panels each having upper and lower edges; b. upper and lower U-shaped rails at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of one of said frame members; c. upper and lower U-shpaed guides at the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms of the other of said frame members for slidably receiving said upper and lower rails whereby said frame members are telescopable to vary the spacing between said end panels and thereby adjust the size of a card-receiving compartment; d. a plurality of apertures in each of said arms of said frame members, said apertures in one of said arms of each of said frame members being transversely aligned with the apertures in the other arm, said apertures in each of said arms of each of said frame members being arranged in like random patterns whereby the card rack is adjustable to selectively receive a plurality of sizes of cards in the card-receiving compartment, said apertures in said arms each being keyhole-shaped and having a generally circular portion and a retaining portion depending therefrom, said retaining portion being narrower than the circular portion; e. a plurality of elongated support members extending between said arms of said frame members and each selectively engaged in an aligned pair of apertures, said support members each having an annular recess in an exterior surface adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, the portions of said support members having the recess therein being received in a respective retaining portion of said apertures to retain said support members therein; f. a plurality of partitions each being movably mounted on said support members and movable longitudinally therealong to define a longitudinal dimension of a plurality of card-receiving compartments within the card file, said partitions being of different sizes and selectively interchangeable upon relocation of said support members; and g. a plurality of indexing lines on at least one arm of one of said frame members to designate the transverse size of the card-receiving compartments when a free end of a corresponding arm of the other frame member is aligned with a selected index line.
 5. A card file as set forth in claim 4 including: a. upper and lower flanges extending transversely from said upper and lower edges respectively of each of said end panels of said frame members; b. at least one downwardly extending recess in each of said upper flanges; and c. an upwardlY extending button on said lower flanges for each downwardly extending recess, said buttons each having a nonscuff surface, said buttons being positioned to be received in a respective downwardly extending recess whereby a plurality of like card files may be stacked vertically.
 6. A card file as set forth in claim 3 including a plurality of indexing lines on at least one arm of one of said frame members to designate the vertical and transverse size of the card-receiving compartment when a free end of a corresponding arm of the other frame member is aligned with a selected indexing line. 